Timer position indicator light

ABSTRACT

An automatic washing machine is provided with a visual signal that is operatively controlled by the presettable sequential control means to positively indicate that the selector means has been properly preset to the first and starting period or increment of a selected washing program.

United States Patent lnventor James L. McConnell St. Joseph, Mich.

Appl. No. 844,495

Filed July 24, 1969 Patented Feb. 23, 1971 Assignee Whirlpool Corporation Benton Harbor, Mich.

TIMER POSITION INDICATOR LIGHT 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 200/167, 68/12 Int. Cl H01h 9/18 Field of Search 68/12;

200/167 (A), 5 (E), 38 (Bl 340/309.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,934,926 5/1960 Buechler 200/5(E)(X) 3,477,258 11/1969 Walker et a1. 68/12 Primary Examiner-H. 0. Jones Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson ABSTRACT: An automatic washing machine is provided with a visual signal that is operatively controlled by the presettable sequential control means to positively indicate that the selector means has been properly preset to the first and starting period or increment ofa selected washing program.

PATENTED H5823 I971 SHEET 1 BF 3 M IW W $744M INVENTOR.

$272 51; ffaazzzzggz PATENTEUFEBZSIHYI 3.566063 SHEET 2 BF 3 I N VENTOR.

TIMER POSITION INDICATOR LIGHT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to automatic washing machines of the type having a presettable sequential control means operable through a series of washing, rinsing and drying periods of a laundry program.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior art arrangements have been restricted to the use of illuminating means in association with a timer dial for visual inspection of the progress of the selected washing program. Transparent colored discs rotatable with a timer dial and through which a light source may direct rays of light have also been employed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a positive indication is effected that the timer dial has been rotated and properly preset to the first and only the first portion of the selected program. In selecting a washing program by rotating the timer dial of the appliance, an operator may be in doubt as to whether he has properly positioned the timer dial to the beginning of the cycle. Inasmuch as machine filling is usually the first period or time segment of any laundry program, excess rotation of the controller advances the timing operation and eliminates part of all of the program period allotted to filling. Accordingly, optimum washing of clothing under such conditions cannot be attained.

According to the invention, an indicator lamp is connected in circuit with the timer of an automatic washing machine and is energized by the timer during the first and only the first period ofthe program cycle. The lamp is physically disposed in the machine console and the console is provided with an aperture so that illumination of the lamp may be observed by the operator. One may, in accordance with well known techniques, provide an audible indicator for use with or in place of the indicator lamp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention, its organization, construction and operation will be best understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and it will be readily apparent that alterations and modifications of the invention may be made by one skilled in the art and that such alterations and modifications should come within the spirit and scope of the disclosure, in the drawings:

FlG. i is a pictorial representation of an automatic washing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line Il-IIofl-IG. i;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the controlled circuit of an automatic washing machine according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a timing chart illustrating the sequence of operation of the apparatus of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings, there is generally shown at an automatic washing machine having a cabinet 11 with a lid 12 for loading and unloading laundry and a console 13. A selector knob 14 is provided for presetting a dial 15 of a presettable sequential control means for operation of an automatic laundry program cycle having a series of washing, rinsing and drying periods.

A light bezel i6 is provided above the dia] 15 to provide a positive indication of the proper positioning of the selector control knob i l in the first segment of the program by the energization of a lamp 17 through a lens assembly 18.

The timer dial 15 is positioned within the console 13 and visual inspection thereof is provided by means of a transparent plate 20 mounted bctweena depression I9 of the console 13 and a member 21 having an aperture or slot 22 therein to provide visual access to timer dial 15.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the selector knob 14 is mechanically coupled to a timer motor 30 which is connectable to an electrical supply at terminals L1 and L2 by way of a plurality of timer contacts 31-33. The timer motor 30 is further coupled to timer contacts 34-43 which are operable in a predetermined sequence. The contacts 34 and 35 control high and low-speed operation of a drive motor 46 over a pair of conductors 47 and 48, respectively. The contacts 37-41 are operable to connect water flow control solenoids 50-52 in circuit at selected times.

Timer contact 36 is provided to energize solenoid 49 which controls the agitation mechanism of the laundry machine.

A timer contact 43 is effective in cooperation with a contact 54 which is operated by the lid 12 to energize a solenoid 53 to provide the spin portions of the washing programs. A water temperature switch 45 including a pair of switch contacts 46 and 47 is provided to control the temperature of the washing liquid.

As an example of operation of the lamp 17, attention is invited to the timing chart of FIG. 4 wherein is illustrated how the lamp 17 is energized only during the first, 31st, 48th, etc., intervals of the sequential control means. It will be noted that each of such intervals are the initial segments or starting periods of corresponding laundry programs and that the lamp 17 is energized by way of the contact 42 only during these initial segments. Therefore, the lamp 17 provides a positive indication to the operator that he has correctly positioned the sequential control means to the first and only the first periods of the selected programs.

We have described apparatus for providing a positive indication that an operator has properly positioned the timer dial to the starting period of the programmed cycle. While such positive indication may be advantageously provided by a visual signal such as a lamp, an audible signal device, or a combination of audiovisual indicators may also be utilized.

I claim:

1. A presettable sequential control means comprising:

a timer motor operable through a series of time periods;

a plurality of cam operated switches actuated by said timer motor through a programmed cycle of periods corresponding to a laundry program having washing, rinsing.

and drying periods; and

electrically energized signal means in circuit with said timer motor only when the control means is properly preset at an initial starting period.

2. A presettable sequential control means as defined in claim 1 wherein said signal means comprises a light source.

3. In a presettable sequential control means, an electrically energized signal means and circuit means including said signal means and said sequential control means to energize said signal means only when said sequential control means is properly preset at an initial starting position.

4. In a sequential programmer having at least one cycle of operation:

first means to set said programmer to any point in said cycle;

indicator means to indicate the setting of said programmer in any predetermined point in said cycle; said indicating means comprising visual indication means;

and

switching means operated by said programmer to energize said visual indication means upon setting of said programmer to said predetermined point.

5. In a sequential programmer as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first means includes:

a dial carrying indicia corresponding to the sequence of operation of said programmer; said predetermined point is the initial point of a cycle;

and

said visual indication means is disposed adjacent said dial.

6. in a sequential programmer as set forth in claim 5, visual indicating means mounted within said housing and wherein said visual indicating means includes a lamp mounted adjacent a second of said apertures for external viewing adjacent said dial. thereof; and

7. A sequential programmer construction for a equ nti l switching means coupled to said first means and operable in programmer having at least one cycle of operation, compris- 5 p n to the ng of Said P g a m r to a predetering: mined point in said cycle to connect said visual indicating a housing having at least two apertures therein; means to an eleflfical pplyfirst means including a dial for setting said programmer at P g construction as defined in Claim 7,

any poimin Said cycle; wherein said visual indicating means includes a lamp posisaid dial mounted within said housing and adjacent a first 1O tioned to Shine through said Second P of said apertures of external viewing thereof; 

1. A presettable sequential control means comprising: a timer motor operable through a series of time periods; a plurality of cam operated switches actuated by said timer motor through a programmed cycle of periods corresponding to a laundry program having washing, rinsing and drying periods; and electrically energized signal means in circuit with said timer motor only when the control means is properly preset at an initial starting period.
 2. A presettable sequential control means as defined in claim 1 wherein said signal means comprises a light source.
 3. In a presettable sequential control means, an electrically energized signal means and circuit means including said signal means and said sequential control means to energize said signal means only when said sequential control means is properly preset at an initial starting position.
 4. In a sequential programmer having at least one cycle of operation: first means to set said programmer to any point in said cycle; indicator means to indicate the setting of said programmer in any predetermined point in said cycle; said indicating means comprising visual indication means; and switching means operated by said programmer to energize said visual indication means upon setting of said programmer to said predetermined point.
 5. In a sequential programmer as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first means includes: a dial carrying indicia corresponding to the sequence of operatIon of said programmer; said predetermined point is the initial point of a cycle; and said visual indication means is disposed adjacent said dial.
 6. In a sequential programmer as set forth in claim 5, wherein said visual indicating means includes a lamp mounted adjacent said dial.
 7. A sequential programmer construction for a sequential programmer having at least one cycle of operation, comprising: a housing having at least two apertures therein; first means including a dial for setting said programmer at any point in said cycle; said dial mounted within said housing and adjacent a first of said apertures of external viewing thereof; visual indicating means mounted within said housing and adjacent a second of said apertures for external viewing thereof; and switching means coupled to said first means and operable in response to the setting of said programmer to a predetermined point in said cycle to connect said visual indicating means to an electrical supply.
 8. A programmer construction as defined in claim 7, wherein said visual indicating means includes a lamp positioned to shine through said second aperture. 